MINNEAPOLIS -- The Uptown Art Fair is celebrating its 49th anniversary this year with a lineup of nationally recognized artists, special performances, and a culinary competition.
The annual event showcases some of the most talented artists in the country.
Along with the artist booths, the Uptown Art Fair offers a variety of special events and activities. Some of this year's highlights include:
Kitchen Window Culinary Arts Competition
The Twin Cities' hottest chefs and most creative artists battle for culinary supremacy in this new feature sponsored by Kitchen Window and presented by Whole Foods Market. The Culinary Arts Competition teams chefs and artists together in a competition to create dazzling culinary art. Teams will be given four key ingredients - artisan chocolate from Minneapolis chocolatier B.T. McElrath, beer from Schell's Brewing Co. and rice from Gourmet House®, along with a secret ingredient - and 30 minutes to design a unique and flavorful dish and a matching piece of visual art. Local celebrities will judge the final creations.
Family Imagination Station
Fairgoers can tap their inner artiste and create clay art at the Family Imagination Station located in the Walker Library Courtyard. Presented by Northern Clay Center, all ages and abilities are welcome to participate in this complimentary "Summer in the City" themed station. Projects will be fired at Northern Clay Center and will be available for pick-up at the center after August 27.
Tomorrow's Stars Youth Art Fair
For the eighth year, Tomorrow's Stars Youth Art Fair will give young talent a chance to shine at the Art Fair. Presented by U.S. Bank FlexPerks, the event brings together more than 50 promising young artists between the ages of 8 and 18, and provides them with an opportunity to display, discuss and sell their artwork inside Calhoun Square. Works include everything from sculptures and paintings to photography and jewelry.
Performance Stage, Beer and Wine Garden
Guests can kick back and soak in live art on the Ultimate Events Performance Stage, while enjoying a cold, refreshing beverage at the new Schell's Beer Garden or at the Barefoot Wine and Bubbly Wine Garden, just a few feet away. Located in Old Chicago's parking lot, the beer garden will feature classic and new Schell's varieties for sale. At the wine garden, Barefoot will offer complimentary samples and glasses of its award-winning wines for purchase.
Intermedia Arts
Each year, the Uptown Art Fair selects a charity to spotlight as a way of honoring the unsung work of a local non-profit. This year's charitable partner is one of Uptown's own: Intermedia Arts. As Minnesota's premier multidisciplinary, multicultural arts center, Intermedia Arts builds understanding among people by catalyzing and inspiring artists and audiences to make changes in their lives and communities. Fairgoers can stop by Intermedia Arts' Youth Booth anytime throughout the fair and make their mark by contributing to a collaborative community mural. In addition, Media Active youth reporters will rove the site to report on fair happenings, and interview fairgoers and artists. Those who ask them about Intermedia Arts will get a chance to win a T-shirt, backpack or free tickets. Intermedia will also have VANdemonium locations throughout the fair where attendees can help them raise $38,000 for a van to transport youth safely to and from after-school programming and events.
Uptown Information Booth
The Uptown Art Fair is a great way to explore one of Minneapolis' hippest neighborhoods. A concierge-style info booth will be on-site to answer any Uptown-related questions, from where to get the best local pad thai to in-the-know recommendations on where to frame new prints. Plus, the booth will feature complimentary maps, coupon books, and giveaways, including a chance to win Sun Country airline tickets. The Apple Store will also be on hand to get the pulse of fairgoers using the latest technology. The booth is hosted by the Uptown Association, producers of the Uptown Art Fair, and located at the corner of Lagoon and Hennepin.
Serious About Green
In addition to bottle and can recycling sponsored by Sons of Norway, Nice Ride Minnesota will again offer complimentary bike valet parking near the intersection of Humboldt Avenue and "The Mall." This year, the fair will collect leftover food and food-soiled paper for composting in the Walker Library food court located in "The Mall" area and at participating vendor booths. One-third of all waste generated is food waste, and at events the percentage is often much higher. Every ton of food waste composted instead of sent to a landfill is equivalent to the environmental benefit of planting 20 trees.
Metro Transit ArtPass
Metro Transit is also offering free rides through its ArtPass. Attendees can ride free on Saturday and Sunday between the Uptown Art Fair, Loring Park Art Festival and the Powderhorn Art Fair. The Metro Transit ArtPass is valid on all Metro Transit bus lines, including the Hiawatha light rail line. For more information, visit www.metrotransit.org/artpass.
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